GWU basketball teams jump back into league play Saturday

Published: Friday, February 7, 2014 at 06:49 PM.

College basketball

In the thick of the Big South Conference schedule, there’s not much down time for the Gardner-Webb University basketball teams. Both will be back in league play Saturday.

Coach Tim Craft’s GWU men (12-12, 5-4) will try to bounce back after Wednesday’s four-overtime loss at home to VMI. The Runnin’ Bulldogs take on another tough foe as North Division co-leader High Point (10-12, 6-3) invades Paul Porter Arena for a 7 p.m. clash.

High Point, which has won its last three meetings with the ‘Dogs, is led by four double-digit scorers — high-flying John Brown (19.4), Allan Chaney (15.4), Adam Weary (12.0) and Devante Wallace (11.5). The Panthers have been hitting 3-point shots at a 53.1-percent clip in league play.

Sophomore Jerome Hill has come on strong for GWU in the last five games, producing 20.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Freshman Tyrell Nelson is coming off a career night when he scored 24 points and grabbed 25 rebounds against the Keydets.

The GWU women (13-9, 8-5) lost a hard-fought road game Thursday against first-place Winthrop. They hope a trip to Radford (5-18, 3-11) for a 2 p.m. encounter will be just what the doctor ordered.

Coach Rick Reeves’ Lady Bulldogs beat the Highlanders 71-57 in Boiling Springs earlier this season. Radford has struggled on its home court to date with a 3-8 record.

In the thick of the Big South Conference schedule, there’s not much down time for the Gardner-Webb University basketball teams. Both will be back in league play Saturday.

Coach Tim Craft’s GWU men (12-12, 5-4) will try to bounce back after Wednesday’s four-overtime loss at home to VMI. The Runnin’ Bulldogs take on another tough foe as North Division co-leader High Point (10-12, 6-3) invades Paul Porter Arena for a 7 p.m. clash.

High Point, which has won its last three meetings with the ‘Dogs, is led by four double-digit scorers — high-flying John Brown (19.4), Allan Chaney (15.4), Adam Weary (12.0) and Devante Wallace (11.5). The Panthers have been hitting 3-point shots at a 53.1-percent clip in league play.

Sophomore Jerome Hill has come on strong for GWU in the last five games, producing 20.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Freshman Tyrell Nelson is coming off a career night when he scored 24 points and grabbed 25 rebounds against the Keydets.

The GWU women (13-9, 8-5) lost a hard-fought road game Thursday against first-place Winthrop. They hope a trip to Radford (5-18, 3-11) for a 2 p.m. encounter will be just what the doctor ordered.

Coach Rick Reeves’ Lady Bulldogs beat the Highlanders 71-57 in Boiling Springs earlier this season. Radford has struggled on its home court to date with a 3-8 record.

Catrina Green, who averages 14.4 points and 10.6 rebounds for GWU, is leading the Big South hitting 58 percent from the field.

GWU Basketball notes from VMI men's game

The 99 shots attempted by Gardner-Webb vs. VMI is the most of any team in any Division I game this season (VMI had gotten up 91 shots in two other games previously and had 89 (5th-best) on Wednesday.

The 63 rebounds by GWU are the 11th-most by a team in Division I this season.

The 25 rebounds by Tyrell Nelson is the most for any Division I player so far this season. Previous was 22 by several different players.

The 25 boards are one shy of the GWU single-game record of 26, set by George Adams vs. Warren Wilson on February 9, 1970.